Lyon in Lights

Lyon, the little Paris by all accounts, is the third largest city in France, after the capital and Marseille on the south coast.

I recently had the opportunity to visit this wonderful city for the annual Fete des Lumieres, the largest festival held in France and second largest in Europe after Germany’s Oktoberfest.

The long history of the festival is wrapped with the religious tidings at this time of year. Lyon had suffered a devastating plague in 1643, and the people of the town prayed to the Virgin Mary to spare the town. Ever since, Lyonnais people have marked the 8^th December by lighting candles in their windows and celebrating with a candle-lit procession to the Basilica Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière.

A river side show

Recently, however, this has spurred an international exposition, where for four days every year, there are numerous light installations around the city. In 2014, there were over 120 different exhibits.

These lights are fantastic works of art and experimentation that are both unique and often interactive or entertaining. Amongst the hundreds of expositions, created by different artists across Europe, some of the most memorable were a “Test-Your-Strength” style game, where spectators were invited to hit an electronic sensor to try and light up a bridge and the bank on the other side of the river, a “Jackpot” machine, and a light projector which you could text and have your message beamed out in Morse code.

Light show at Place Bellecour

In the large squares, there were shows throughout the night. At Place Bellecour, this was based on the adventures of the fictional character “The Little Prince”, and explorers and adventurers of history; outside the town hall, there was a 15 minute projection showing the development of dance, from ballet, to street dance and everything in between.

Best of all, the festival is free. No tickets are required to admire these fascinating and illuminating pieces, and there is a real affinity between tourists and locals alike who come to celebrate this one of a kind exposition.

The city itself merits a visit at any time of the year. Gastronomy in Lyon is amongst the best in France, and is also surprisingly affordable, with tasty two course meals available for under 15 euros.

The Basilica

Elsewhere, the city has architectural echoes of Paris, and yet the old town has winding streets to explore and hidden passageways with shops that have been open for hundreds of years. At the top of the hill overlooking Lyon you can find the Basilica, which, with its mix of architecture, stain glass windows, and detailed tile artwork on the interior, is a highlight no matter what religion you practise. Nearby, there is also a well preserved Roman amphitheatre, and some Roman ruins, which tell of the history of this sometimes overlooked city.

For those looking for more modern fun, the Parc de la Tete d’Or has beautiful gardens and a large free zoo, open all throughout the year.

Lyon is approximately 2hrs from Paris by TGV train, or has its own airport, with many services operating for the special Fete de Lumieres event.

I would certainly not only recommend both Lyon and the festival, but desperately want to visit again, as the art work and light exhibits change and grow each year, amidst an ever larger number of tourists.

Thank you Lyon!